Modi: restored ‘waning’ confidence in India

By Mubasshir Mushtaq

MUMBAI, India

Reaching the end of his first year in power, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has claimed his government has brought sweeping changes to the country. 

“We assumed office at a time when confidence in the India story was waning. Unabated corruption and indecisiveness had paralyzed the government,” the 64-year-old Modi told Indian citizens in an open letter issued Tuesday. 

Modi said that a year ago people had been “left helpless” against rising inflation and economic insecurity.

“Runaway prices were immediately brought under control. The languishing economy was rejuvenated, building on stable, policy-driven proactive governance,” Modi said, adding that allotment of country’s natural resources was now done through transparent auctions. 

Modi was recently criticized for saying, while in China, that Indians had been ashamed of themselves until he came to power a year ago. 

Modi also responded to criticism over his promise to bring back "black money" illegally stashed abroad, saying that the government has established the legislation for it and has pushed for other countries to follow. On Monday, Switzerland began disclosing names of foreign bank account holders, including Indians. 

He said the initiatives taken by his government in the past year would be followed by more during the remainder of his term. 

“Our objective is to transform quality of life, infrastructure and services. Together we shall build the India of your dreams and that of our freedom fighters,” Modi said.

Some have questioned whether Modi has delivered on the many promises made during the 2014 election campaign, especially regarding economic revival. 

“The economy has been the biggest disappointment for the Modi government’s admirers,” Anil Bhatia, an independent journalist who specializes in economy, told Anadolu Agency, claiming that the government focus on developing manufacturing was misguided. 

“It doesn’t take a genius to realize that these mantras that worked for Japan and China worked in a different era of world trade. That window is long shut," said Bhatia. "Over the last many decades, even as India stumbled on manufacturing, it made rapid strides in services. That’s the Indian opportunity."